On February 4, 2025, the R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine held an online seminar titled «Fundamental and Clinical Aspects of Drug Resistance in Oncology,» dedicated to World Cancer Day.

The event marked the launch of a new project, «ONcoLogiCa«—a series of scientific seminars and training sessions aimed at promoting the latest advancements in oncology research.

A total of 141 participants registered for the seminar, which focused on overcoming drug resistance—one of the key challenges in modern oncology. Attendees included students, postgraduate researchers, scientists, educators, and specialists from leading Ukrainian universities and research institutions.

The largest groups of participants represented:

• O.O. Bogomolets National Medical University,
• Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv,
• Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University,
• Oles Honchar Dnipro National University.

The seminar attracted attendees not only from major scientific hubs in Ukraine—Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi, Uman, Zaporizhzhia, and Ternopil—but also from international academic communities in Batumi (Georgia) and Gdańsk (Poland).

The first speaker was Tetiana Borikun, PhD, a research fellow at the Department of Tumor Process Monitoring and Therapy Design at the R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology of NAS of Ukraine. In her talk, «Mechanisms of Drug Resistance in Malignant Tumors: Contemporary Perspectives,» she examined the underlying mechanisms of drug resistance, highlighting genetic, epigenetic, proteomic, and metabolic changes in tumor cells, as well as the role of the tumor microenvironment. She emphasized that current research provides deeper insights into drug resistance and facilitates the development of new therapeutic approaches, including epigenetic modification-based treatments. The next presentation was given by Olena Martyniuk, a PhD student at the R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology and a clinical oncologist at the Scientific and Clinical Department of Breast Tumors and Reconstructive Surgery of the State Scientific and Practical Center «National Cancer Institute.» In her talk, «Drug Resistance in Clinical Oncology: Challenges and Innovative Solutions,» she addressed key obstacles in overcoming drug resistance in modern oncology. Dr. Martyniuk emphasized that breast cancer heterogeneity significantly complicates treatment efficacy and contributes to therapeutic resistance. She provided an in-depth review of contemporary therapy selection strategies, including combination approaches and personalized medicine, aimed at preventing drug resistance development. In conclusion, she stressed the importance of integrating scientific research into clinical practice and the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment.